Fallert files for state senate seat
Rep. Joe Fallert Jr. has filed for the state senate seat in the third district.
Fallert, a Democrat who currently represents the 104th district in the state’s house of representatives, is from Ste. Genevieve. He said he filed because he is committed to continuing to work hard to represent the region.
“Government needs to get down to the business of doing our best for the people we represent,” he said. “I think the people of the third district want their government to speak to the issues that affect them.”
Fallert said that among the more important issues is the need to improve the local economy and make the most of the region’s assets, which include agriculture, mining and tourism.
“I’ve worked hard on the kinds of things that can make that happen, and I pledge I will continue to do so.” he said.
Fallert said that during his time in the House, he has been active in securing substantial levels of funding for projects to improve the region’s ability to attract business and industry. Those efforts include port development and ground transportation projects such as bridge replacements and the resurfacing of a long stretch of Highway 61, Those projects also have created jobs in the region.
Fallert has been a longtime supporter of the $1.557 billion Holcim (US) Inc. Ste. Genevieve cement plant, which has an estimated economic impact of nearly $400 million annually for the state. He also played an active role in the region’s efforts to forestall imposition of metropolitan area air quality regulations on rural counties, which Fallert and others from the region said would negatively impact economic development efforts.
He has been a strong advocate for the region’s farm community, especially small family farms. He had called for fair trade practices in agriculture, and has served on the Rural Democratic Caucus, created to provide outstate Missouri with stronger representation in the General Assembly.
Fallert also has supported efforts to maximize revenues from tourism attractions in the region.
Assuming the latest redistrict proposal stands, the third district includes the southern portion of Jefferson County, along with St. Francis, Washington, Iron, Reynolds and Ste. Genevieve counties.
